LITERARY NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 17

LITERARY NOTES.

“ l would rather be a poor man in a garret with plenty of books than a king who did not love reading.”—Loud Macaulay. 4 Address all communications for this column to The Editor, Nkw Zka land Mail.” , Publishers and booksellers are invited to send books and publications of general interest for notice in this column, thereby enabling country readeis to be in touch with the latest works in the Colony. Publishers sending books for review are requested to mention their price.

WITH PAPER-KNIFE AND PEN.

“The Secret of the Australian Desert,” by Ernest Favenc. (London and Melbourne : Blackie and Son.) Mr Favenc is well-known as the author of some of the best stories of Australian adventure ever written, notably his 44 Tales of the Austral Topics.” In 44 The Secret of the Australian Desert”.he blends fiction with fact in a most ingenious way, and has produced a story which, as a tale of a pure adventure, is quite equal to some of the best of Rider Haggard’s earlier work. The story is based very largely upon the Leichardt expedition and the mystery which has surrounded the exact fate of some of its unfortunate members. Mr Favenc introduces Hs to three joung squatters, who, living in a part of the Northern Territory which lies away back from the farthest west of Northern Queensland, determine to make a trip still further inland with a view to discovering what truth there is in certain legends they have heard from the blacks of the existence of a burning mountain, of certain caves with curious paintings, and other wonders. The party set out, and Mr Favenc lets his imagination have full sway as he recounts their experiences. The burning mountain is duly found, and the explorers make acquaintance with a strange race, of much higher civilisation than the ordinary blacks, practising, however, barbarian ceremonies, indulging in cannibalism and other horrors, and employing weapons made of steel. These people have in their hands an aged white man, who, unfortunately, dies almost immediately after being rescued by the three explorers, and dies, too, without telling how and when he had first arrived in the country. His pocket-book, containing a rough diary is, however, found, and it is then discovered that the; dead man was no other than Stuart, one of Leichardt’s party. Eventually the explorers, after undergoing some perilous adventures and discovering a gold reef of astonishing richness, get safely back to civilisation. Mr Favenc tells his story with great vigour and relates the most marvellous experiences with an air of 4 jraisemblance, which makes his wellwritten romance all the more delightful reading. A better book than this for a lad who loves a story of adventure we have not read for some time, and adults, also, who take pleasure in a stirring romance are also recommended to get the book. Mr Percy F. Spence, a young Australian artist now rapidly making a name for himself in London, contributes some spiritedly - drawn illustrations, and the book is bound in a highly attractive style. New Zealanders will be interested to learn that Mr Favenc in his preface acknowledges the use he has made of a discovery of Sir George (then Lieutenant) Grey in 1838. In that year Sir George,who was on an expedition in northwest Australia, discovered some remarkable cave paintings, which were plainly the work of quite another race than the Australian blacks. Strange to say, however, the locality has not been again investigated. i< Tit sitin' Yon Liebig, His Life and 'Work ’’by W. A.\ Shenstone, F.I.C. (Century Science Series). (London and Melbourne: Cassell and Co. Wellington : H. and J. Baillie.) The Century Science Series, edited by Sir Henry Roscoe, i chemist, and publishedjLj^Casa^SSß^idCo^oughbtgg

be a great success if all its volumes are equal in interest to this excellent little sketch of Vun Liebig’s Life and Work. With most people as Mr Shenstone points out in his preface, the prevailing impression concerning Liebig is that he was a man who gained a large fortune by making extract of meat,” and now and then one meets someone who seems to have heard of his name in connection with agriculture. But, as Mr Shenstone goes on to say, Liebig was in fact one of the greatest of modern chemists, that class in whose work Mr Balfour finds “ the causes which more than any others conduce to the movements of great civilised societies.” It is an extremely interesting account of Liebig that is given in this useful little volume. We read in turn of his early life, of his being frankly told by his worthy schoolmaster that he was the “ plague of his teachers, the sorrow of his parents,’’when Liebig replied amid the loud laughter of the pedagogue and his schoolmates that he would be a chemist. Then we have his apprenticeship to an apothecary, his early studies in experimental and practical chemistry, his taking of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the age of 19, and soon to his migration from his native land of Germany to Paris, which in the early years of this century was the acknowledged headquarters of scientific inquiry. Later chapters deal with Liebig’s chemical discoveries, of the greatest importance in the scientific and commercial worlds, his connection with other scientists, such as Wohler and Dumas, his discoveries on the subject of fermentation, on which, by the way, he became engaged in a long discussion with Leon Pasteur, his special work on the chemistry of agriculture and on physiological chemistry, the important educational work he instituted and carried on, and many other interesting phases of a long and busy life. He had many friends in England where, bj' the way, he went in 1860 to give evidence on the utilising of town sewage, receiving a special vote of thanks from the Corporation of London for the assistance he hard given in regard to this difficult subject. It was an experiment of Liebig’s on the action of chlorine with alcohol which resulted in the discovery of a substance of absolutely immeasurable value to man —viz., of chloroform, the anaesthetic —and of a second substance —chloral. The discovery, however, was not fully utilised until some 20 years later. Liebig died at Munich, in 1873, beloved by ali who knew him, a man whose whole life had been passed in scientific research and efforts to prolong human life and lessen human suffering. Mr Shenstone is not too technical ; in two chapters alono does he find necessary to employ the language of chemistry, and whilst, of course, this excellent little work will bo of primary interest to the scientific student, it appeals to all general reader’s who can find a pleasure in the story of the well spent life of a very celebrated man. The volume is well bound, and contains a portrait of the famous chemist.

“ Professor Blackie ; his Sayings and Doings,” by Howard Angus Kennedy. (London : James Clarke and Co.)

It was only the other day that we reviewed in these columns the monumental biography of the late Professor Blackie by Miss Anna Stoddart, and now we have before us another biography of the same famous Scot, this time from the pen of his nephew. Mr Kennedy’s biography, although not on so extensive or pretentious a scale as the handsome work issued by Messrs Blackwood, is a most delightful work, being written in a vein which is chatty and gossipy, and in every way suited to the subject. At its very reasonable price of 6s, it should reach a large class of readers, to whom the more expensive work would be inaccessible. Mr Kennedy’s account of the professor’s career is most readable throughout, and in the brief compass of some 350 pages he gives us some very enjoyable reading. We have more of Blackie in his private life, surroundings and connections than Miss Stoddart gives us, and we rise from a perusal of the charming little , volume with our old sense of admiration for the stout-hearted old professor, poet and patriot greatly deepened and 1 strengthened. The volume is liberally illustrated with no less than six portraits of the good old Scotsman at different times during his long and busy life, and portraits are also given of Alexander and George S. Blackie, his father and brother respectively. Yiewsare also given of the various Blackie homes in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and at Oban ; also of Mareschal College, Aberdeen, and of Edinburgh University, St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, and other places connected with his career. Some exceedingly fine fac-similes are also given, and the fine bold type and handsome binding combine to make this volume a most desirable addition to the library of every good Scotsman, whether in the Old Land itself or in these colonies, where admirers of the good old man can be found in their thousands.

“ The Chitral Campaign,” a narrative of events in Chitral, Swat and Bajour, by H. 0. Thomson. London : William Heinemann (Heinemann’s Empire Library).

Mr H. C. Thomson, the author of this very interesting record of one of the most notable achievements of British officers and British soldiers, is a civilian who some years ago spent a few months on the north-west frontier of India, studying the habits and customs of the Pathans and other tribes. Happening to be a visit to Bombay when the now famous Chitral expedition was sent forth to rescue the beleaguered British resident, and his little company, Mr Thomson obtained leave to accompany the relieving force, and was an eye witness of most of the most notable incidents of the march through the passes and the relief of the Chitral garrison. The result is *: vbook which has been most warmly by the leading English papers

and which in its present cheap and handy form will no doubt find a goodly number of readers in New Zealand and wherever British pluck, endurance and bravery find admirers. Mr Thomson gives a compact and lucid account of the events which necessitated the despatch of the expedition, and a luminous and forcible description of the perils of the journey, the desperate fighting in the passes, and the defeat of Uuira Elian’s followers and the relief of the gallant little handful of men who had so bravely held the fort against a liord of determined and fanatical toes. He possesses the ability of presenting the various engagements before the reader in such a vivid and intelligible manner that one seems for the time to be a member of the expeditionary force. The final chapters contain an examination of the future possibilities of Chitral and surrounding States, as appanages of the Indian Empire, together a most interesting account of the Chitrali social and religious customs. The work posseses the very great advantage of containing some 60 very fine illustrations, executed from photographs taken by the author. It is by looking at Mr Thomson’s admirable views of the country passed through that one obtains an adequate idea of the terrible difficulties with which the Europeans and Indian troops composing the expeditionary force had to contend. "With such men as those of whose brilliant exploits Mr Thomson writes to uphold the British Hag and its prestige on the lioithwestern frontier, there is little need to fear a Russian or any other invasion of the Indian Empire. This is a book which should be ou the shelves of every public library.

“ Axima PoetaE,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ; edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge, London: Wm. Heinnemann. Coleridge’s Table Talk is well-known, and is still widely read. The present collection of “ aphorisms, confessions and soliloquies,” hitherto unpublished, of the great poet philosopher, Las been arranged from the contents of various pocket and memorandum books which have long been in the possession of Coleridge’s descendants. Some few of the scraps as, for want of a better generic name, they may be called, have appeared before in various scattered volumes, but the majority of them have not previously seen the light of day in print, The contents of the volume vary greatly as to interest and liteiary quality, Coleridge seems to have had a habit of jotting every little occurrence, fact, saying, quotation or newspaper clipping which, so it appeared to him, might come in handy for the purposes of his work, and to such he adds sundry brief reflections of his own on a bewildering diversity of subjects; but nearly all pregnant with some notable thought, some suggestion for a subject for serious or satirical treatment. The work is, in fact, a common-place book, and although Mr Hartley Coleridge has no doubt sifted out rauoh that was trivial, there remain not a few reflections which are not particularly remarkable, and which coming from any other than Coleridge might almost be put down as platitudes. The bulk of the contents, however, is generally readable ; the book is one to be dipped into at odd moments, often to come across some very beautiful thoughts. We should like very much to give a few quotations, but we find that we had maiked far too many titbits on perusal, and that we must now content ourselves by recommending the book to the attention of the intellectual and cultured as being one in which many sweets comjiacted lie. Printed on rough antique paper and bound in a soberly artistic style, this is a most suitable book for a present to any young man or woman possessing literary tastes.

“ The Entail or the Lairds of Grippy,” by John Galt. 2 vols. (Edinburgh : William Blackwood and fcons.)

Messrs Blackwood’s exceedingly neat and likeable edition of the novels of John Galt is making steady progress. The latest volumes contain 44 The Entail or the Lairds of Grippy.” The story is not Galt’s best, but as Mr Crockett joints out in an agreeably written and sympathetic preface, there is much in it that is worthy of our admiration. It is, as Mr Crockett truly says, “ a wayward chronicle,” but in no other book of Galt’s are there more delightful pictures of the homely and sometimes rather severe, but always honest and homely life of the country. And there are some good character sketches here and there, suggesting to readers of later Scots writers' 3 'that these latter had read—and remembered —their Galt. 4C The Lairds of Grippy ” contains many delightfully humorous passages, the small jealousies and rivalries of the various members of the families of Grippy and Kittlestonheugh being recounted with a sly humour which is vastly entertaining. Mr Wallace contributes four clever and characteristic etchings to the two volumes, which, like their predecessors in the same series, are beautifully printed and bound in a most chastely attractive style. Those who find pleasure in “ lan Maclaren,” and in Messrs Crockett and Barrie should not neglect this edition of Galt. He has been a neglected author far too long, and well merited the posthumous honour of a new edition.

“Hereward the Wake,” by Charles Kingsley. (Pocket edition). (London : Macmillan and Co. Wellington : S. and W. Mackay).

Kingsley dearly loved a fight, and all the Berseker blood that he boasted he had inherited must have boiled in his veins when he wrote of the gallant Hereward, “the last of the English/' who with his scanty band of stalwart comrades, held the Isle of Ely for so long against the invading Norman, and won the admiration of the Conqueror himself, • It is a stirring book, and like

Westward Ho, it will not readily die until English youth loses its love of a story of adventure, and English parents are so forgetful of the good things in English fiction that they fail to remember “Hereward” and Charles Kingsley. In the portable and comely edition, in which Messrs Macmillan now issue this old favourite it should have a new life and a new popularity.

“The Inspiration and Authority op the Bible,’’ by John Clifford, D.D. (London: James Clarke and Co.) Has the Rev Dr Clifford, the scholarly Baptist divine, been captured by the Higher Criticism ? Each reader of his latest book must answer the question for himself. It is sufficient to say that “The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible ” is written in his happiest vein, and contains the thoughts of a sincere and broad- / minded Christian. Whether the reader agrees with everything in the book or not, the writer’s ability, honesty and determination to be accurate will be cheerfully admitted. The author tells us his object is “ to inspire faith in God and His Gospel, and to prevent men from sailing towards 1 the ‘ sunless gulf of doubt.’ ” The book opens j with a chapter entitled, “How to study | the Bible.” This will prove of great ' assistance to students and others, as it j lays down the excellent principle that the Bible is to be studied in precisely the same way as any other book, and should be approached without prejudice. There are several other chapters of interest, but one calls for particular notice, as it is sure to startle the orthodox conscience. It deals with the vexed question of “ verbal inspiration.” Dr Clifford is not a believer in the theory of “ verbal inspiration,” and urges that the erroneous teaching of the past in this direction is responsible for much of the prevailing unbelief. After explaining his own views on inspiration, he proves, by several pointed examples, that the Bible is by no means free from error. But the Doctor would not have it understood that he rejects any fundamental doctrine of Christianity. Far from it. While disagreeing with certain theories, he says firmly that he “believes in the authority and sufficiency of the Bible in all matters relating to the redemption and regeneration of man.” This is both clear and satisfactory, showing that, even if there be errors in the Bible, they do not affect vital doctrine. It is not surprising that this book has had a wide circulation, and is now in its second edition, as it is a valuable contribution to the religious controversy of the hour. The book is well printed and well bound, and will, no doubt, be eagerly acquired by students of theological literature in the Colony. C.W. Several other notices are held over. RECEIVED. “ His First Kangaroo,” by Arthur Ferris (London and Melbourne: Blackieand Son). “ Terminations,” by Henry James ; “ The Comedy of Sentiment,” by Max Nordau (Heinemann’s Colonial Library). “ The Red Cockade,” by Stanley Weyman (Longman’s Colonial Library) ; and several volumes of Macmillan’s Colonial Library. “Chronicles of the Garden of New Zealand” (Taranaki), by W. H. J. Seffern (New Plymouth; Herald Office).